Independence in Michael Lewis’ The Blind Side

Michael Lewis’ The Blind Side suggests that independence is not a factor of success. In the game of football, players need their teammates in order to succeed. Michael Oher shows that when he has a family to depend on, he becomes more successful than when he was independent. The Tuohy family depends on Michael. Michael and Sean Junior become closer, as well as making them happier, which is a success. Everyone needs someone to depend on for guidance, support, and encouragement to be successful.

In football the entire team is needed for success or victory. Everyone needs a team, as Lemming says: “No player is bigger than the game” (52). Players have to depend on their team mates, and no one can win alone. Michael becomes a better football player when he joins a team and understands his position. He is an inexperienced football player until he joins a team and they help him. When Michael starts out he has no idea what he has to do as a member of the team (100). Once his role in the team is identified, he has a chance to support his team. He and his teammates work together and win the state championship (203). Michael goes from being unskilled player to someone pulling him aside and telling him he could be the best lineman ever to come out of Ole Miss (405). Michael goes from being useless on the field when joining the team, to becoming incredibly good through his team.

Before he goes to Briarcrest, Michael Oher has no family taking care of him, and he has no future. Michael needs some one: “Big Mike was going to drop out,” said Big Tony. “And if he dropped, out he’d be like all his friends who dropped out: dead, in jail, or on the street selling drugs, just waiting to be dead or in jail” (3). With no one to guide Michael, he has no f...

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...and Sean Junior shut the door to Michael’s room for hours and compete: video games, miniature basketball, and whatever else they can find that leveled the playing field between a four-foot six-inch, 85-pound ten-year-old boy and a six-foot five inch, 350-pound teenager (180). The brotherly bond between Michael and Sean Junior, is very strong. The two of them have fun together, and are happy together. Happiness is the biggest success for Michael.

The game of football, Michael Oher, and Sean Junior all need dependence for success. Whether that success is winning a game, becoming a division 1 college player, or being happy, no one can win alone in the team sport, life. People need a team by their side, to support them during their game. They need people to cheer them on in life, like cheerleaders in a game. They can not win in succeed if they are facing it alone.